The National tribune., 1887-06-16
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
ters--NOtes from the Departments.
HEADQUARTERS WoMAN's RELIEF CORPS,
SAN Francisco, CAL

SAN Francisco, CAL
ELIZABETH DA KINSE National President.
NELLIE G. BACKUs. National Secretary.
419 GALA ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CAL,
June 2, 1897.
DEAR TRIBUNE: Memorial Day we learn
has been fittingly observed in all parts Of the
country, and our Corps have performed their
part OF the work nobly, making many, many
thousands of bouquets for their soldier hus-
bands brothers and friends to lay upon the
graves of comrades gone before, and aecompa-
nying their Posts to all the services held In
| memory of the dead.
Appreciation of the sentiment of woman's
work is very delightful no doubt, but COM
mendation such as our friend, Gen. Fairchild,
| Commander-in- Chief gives US and our work,
| after a careful investigation of the practical
! side. is to be more highly valued, because more
deserved, than any other praise. And the Ma
tional President and all those associated with
her and the work are very grateful to Gen.
Fairchild for the very open and public way he
has taken to testify his high esteem.
| Let me quote the opening paragraphs of
General Orders, No. II, Headquarters, Madison,
| Wis:
| ments the Commanderin- Chief has been careful,
| whenever opportunity offered, to attend the De
partment and Corps meetings OF the woman ) ne
lief Corps.
| He takes this opportunity to testify, after much
personal observation to the general diligence IN
telligence and efficiency with which the members
of that most excellent society prosecute the noble
| work upon which they have entered.
He cordially cOngratulates those noble women
| who have been and are mt this time the chosen
leaders in this beneicent work upon the fact that
the greatest success continues to attend their eff
forts.
Words cannot express the great value which the
members of the GAR. place upon the loving eff
forts of All loyal women to aid in relieving those
veterans their widows and orphans. who have TAI
| len into sorrow. distress sickness.
The astonishing growth in our membership
in California during the last year has been
often attributed and it was believed with JUS
tice, to the prospect of having the National Con-
vention held here last August. But we are
more than proud to state that this increase has
continued at the same rate until our Depart
ment President finds she has no idle moments,
her time being fully occupied with visiting
and instituting new Corps. Our only trouble
is that we can scarcely get supplies to nil de-
mands rapidly enough. These new Corps are
formed largely Of the loyal woman" element,
and right Loyalty they perform the work their
hands find to do in the many avenues Of char
ity that open before them.
The Department Commander, Gov. Solomon
and his staff. aid and encourage US with theil
advice and good counsel, and more perfect co
operation could not be desired.
The Department of Iowa in the past has beer
most FORTUNATE in its selection of officers, anC
has ranked among the first for good and sue
cessful management, and it will be seen thai
there is every prospect of a continuance OF thi
excellent state of affairs and that they have
made no mistake in the selection of their pres
ent Department President. An extract / shall
quote from a speech made by her at a reception
rendered by the Post and Corps Of her own city
to welcome her home from the Department
} Convention:
The matter of eligibility to membership was set
tied for Us by the 18th National Encampment Of IN
GAR. at Denver, when we became auxiliary l.
that Order and is not question for us to raise
. discuss. am glad that all loyal women have al
opportunity To join ranks and aid In our worl
of ministering to the living Union soldier, ant
srewing with garlands the graves OF the dead. IN
: members of the GAR. and their families are eS
peeted to know all needful lessons of patriotism
and loyalty. and IL remains for US to inculcae thos
: lessons in the communities in which We live, an
r | among the families whose membership our Orde
0 brings under its influence. Especially should W
! aim TO bring to organization and under Its ~
: fuence the young women to-day who know so III
tie of the sad realities of those days of sorrow an
r strife, and whose sympathies can in no way be 5
successfully enlisted as in work of assisting tn
: Grand Army of the Republic in caring for the oil
| soldier
: Mrs. McHenry, on being elected Department
a President, resigned her Presidency of John
Logan Corps, thus evincing an appreciation Q
the wisdom of the often-reiterated recommen
dations Of the National President under sue
n circumstances, and readiness to comply
!, them.
r We learn that various papers in Indiana hav
published statements to the effect that supple:
Q etc. have been furnished to a person in Indian
Il apolis calling herself Department President (
2, the W.R.C We wish to most emphatically II
r. flute these statements. Mrs. Loretta j. GOrsucl
% South Bend, is the recognized President of th
s. WRC. in Indiana, and to her, and her alon
d have been or will be supplies and blanks {
l. general orders furnished. Any one else in po
e session of any books, documents or badges, Il
10 the purpose of issuing them to Corps, has bee
there in a thoroughly unauthorized manne
We have no objection to the formation of a
"a independent organization in Indiana, but "
y do seriously object to its sailing falsely undo
n our colors, with false principles and false pr
:. = fences. EUREKA.